The Yemeni government’s air force conducted airstrikes on Saturday against Houthi missile and drone launch sites, as well as arms depots, in the Marib and Al-Jawf provinces along the front lines with the Iran-backed group, according to two Yemeni military officials. These operations mark some of the first offensive actions taken by government forces since recent escalations in the region.
Separately, Saudi-led coalition forces carried out strikes on Friday targeting Houthi military positions in Hodeidah, a strategic port city on Yemen’s western coast. The coalition described the strikes as a proportional response to recent attacks on Saudi-linked maritime vessels in the Red Sea. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Malki said on social media platform X that the strikes focused on legitimate military targets belonging to the Houthi militia in Hodeidah governorate.
A Yemeni security source reported to AFP that a naval base in Hodeidah and a military installation on Kamaran Island were among the facilities targeted during the coalition’s operation. Al-Malki emphasized that the Hodeidah port itself was not hit and remained open, along with other Yemeni ports including Ras Issa and Salif. He also noted that no airports were struck in order to maintain air traffic, but accused the Houthis of blocking flight operations at Sanaa International Airport.
In the diplomatic arena, Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al-Jaber criticized the Houthi leadership, stating that the militia has turned Yemen into a pawn exploited by foreign actors pursuing their own agendas, to the detriment of Yemen’s security and stability. In a series of posts on X, he stressed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through slogans or political delays but requires genuine commitment prioritizing the nation’s interests and the welfare of its people.
The recent military actions reflect ongoing efforts by both Yemeni government forces and the Saudi-led coalition to counter the Houthi group amid renewed hostilities following a period of relative calm. The situation remains fluid as diplomatic and military tensions persist in Yemen’s protracted conflict.